Description:

Fort Hood generates approximately 1,200 lecture bottles containing gas residues annually, with a cost of disposal of approximately $130,000. The smokeless gas flare burns off gases by flaring small flammable lecture bottles including disposable propane, ether, butane, MAPP, and other flammable gas residues. The process uses standards set forth in TNRCC Standard Exemption #80. Once gases are burnt off, valve stems can be removed, and the bottles can be recycled as scrap metal. Fort Hood has submitted this procedure to the Army Idea of Excellence Program.

P2 Application:

This project was developed using industry standards for the hook-up and use of propane tanks, and to meet the requirements of waste minimization. The project design uses a multiple lecture bottle hook-up system to allow for the burning off of up to ten bottles at once. Total cost to fabricate the unit was $338. The process allows for minimal time to be spent on the process. For example, the initial burn of 205 lecture bottles took a total of 12 man hours during a three day period. Fire, safety, and air emission consideration were taken into account by constructing an enclosure in which to conduct burns. The process has been approved and forwarded for Army wide use.

Environmental Benefits:

This process has enabled Fort Hood to eliminate waste generated as a result of lecture bottles containing residues and converts the major part of the waste stream into metal recycling.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The project was placed into operation in August of 1996. To date, 865 lecture bottles have been processed for a saving in disposal costs of $94,285.